The Healer: First Touch (38 page)
I remember I was so cold and afraid. The temperature was bitter and my bare extremities tingled painfully from the cold. It didn't take long for Oma to notice I was missing. She found me outside in the cold, half dressed, shivering violently. It did take a long time for me to warm up, though, even with electric blankets and multiple mugs of hot chocolate. I just remember feeling so very cold.
That's how I felt now. Freezing cold. My toes and fingers felt numb. I shivered and shook uncontrollably as I struggled to warm my body. I was so cold that my skin tingled with the same prickles of pain that I remembered from my youth. Every nerve ending screamed from the cold. Even my mind was frozen. All I was aware of was the need for warmth.
"Jacey....Jacey...Come on. Come on." A voice called for me over and over. Each word chipped away at the ice surrounding my brain.
"That's it, come on. Wake up. You can do it." The voice encouraging me was rich and warm.
I felt my body being surrounded by warmth, thawing my freezing legs and arms. "It's okay. It's alright," the voice soothed. "Feel the heat. Let it warm you."
I was wrapped in something hard, but it wasn't rough. It was smooth, silky. I felt drawn to it. I moved myself closer to the warmth and wrapped my arms around it.
I heard soft chuckling, as strong cords circled me, bringing me even tighter against the warmth. "That's it, Jacey."
My body continued to warm, heating my body from the outside in. My cheek rubbed against the smoothness. I slowly moved my face, savoring the warmth. I sighed, breathing in a wonderfully soothing clean, musky scent.
My eyes flew open. I focused on the intricate patterns of the black tattoo at the level of my eyes. Before I moved, I placed my hand over top of the tattoo in front of me. The heartbeat I felt throbbing under my palm was steady and strong. A small smile spread across my lips.
"Do you like what you feel?"
"Yes," I murmured, not moving my head or hand. "I like it very much."
Varick moved, wrapping his arms tighter around me. He sighed heavily before he placed a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "You are amazing. It's impossible, but you did it."
My smile broadened as I settled in closer to Varick's bare chest. We were sitting up against the large boulder still in the middle of the meadow. The clouds had cleared and warm sun beat down upon us.
"Are you feeling better now?" Varick asked, resting his chin on my head.
I was alive. Varick was alive. And I felt great. I sighed, closing my eyes and smiling.
Varick chuckled. "I guess you are, then."
I sat up and pulled away from Varick slightly. I kept my arms wrapped around his waist. My eyes blinked with my confusion. "I thought you were dead."
Varick gave me his lopsided half grin. "I was. I've never heard it being done before. Not in all the years of Healers and Protectors. Never. I guess you're not normal." His smile broadened, his teeth flashing brightly. There was no blood, no cuts and bruises. Just Varick's perfect, unmarred face.
I did do it. And I wasn't normal. And as long as I had Varick, that was alright with me. I threw myself back at Varick, burying my face back in his chest. I squeezed my arms around him as hard as I could.
Varick groaned, followed by more laughter. "And strong."
My eyes moved to the patterns of ink circling his left pectoral muscle. With my finger, I lightly traced the lines of the tattoo, following them as they circled over his chest. "Is this where my name is? Burned into your heart?" My fingertips lightly traced the intricate pattern on his skin above his heart.
Varick sucked in his breath as my finger touched him. He flattened my hand against his chest, his heart. "Yes, right here." And he pressed my hand harder against his chest. My heart slowed, matching the rhythm of his heart. "I told you that you were my heart." Varick's words were soft and the intensity of his blue eyes made me dizzy. I concentrated on the throbbing of Varick's heart. I smiled feeling my heart beating as one with his.
"I love you, Varick," I whispered to him, my eyes still tightly closed. I opened my eyes slowly, looking up into those vibrant eyes. "I love you. And I can't help it."
Varick grinned again. His eyes sparkled mischievously. "God help me, but I'm in love with you too. I've loved you from the first time I heard your cry. I'm not supposed to though. It's against the rules...Healers and Protectors."
My heart swelled with happiness at Varick's words. He loved me. And I loved him. I smiled.
"It will be tough though, Jacey." Varick was suddenly serious. "I can never forget that protecting you is my first priority. I can't allow my feelings for you to conflict with that purpose. Ever."
"I'll remind you."
"And if others find out about our relationship, it could be dangerous for both of us."
"So, we'll protect each other, watch out for each other."
Varick laughed gently. "But there's also the Fury. They will be back with a vengeance, deadlier than ever."
"I know. But we'll fight them. Together. You and I."
"You have an answer for everything, don't you?"
I smiled triumphantly.
Varick unwrapped his arms from around me and peeled my hands off from him. He bent down and scooped up the broken pieces of my pin. With his other hand, he scooped up a little bit of dirt and dropped it on top of the pin pieces in his palm. He closed his fist, squeezing the pieces and dirt tightly.
"I'm sorry about my pin. Asim took it and..."
I stopped as Varick opened his palm. My pin was in his hand, complete, sparkling brilliantly in the afternoon sun. Varick dropped it lightly in my outstretched hand. I moved my hand slightly, watching the light bounce off the little stones. I glanced back at Varick, my eyes beginning to tear up. "Thank you," I whispered.
Varick put his hand over mine, the little pin trapped between our hands. "Setackoo, bitaloo, kapetic miyaloo, suwaee, mikal."
You are my soul, you are my breath. It is for you that I live, I exist.
"No," I replied softly, smiling. "I exist because you exist, my Protector."
"Mia Helsoka."
My Healer.
THE END
Coming in 2013
Book Two of The Healer Series
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The Healer: First Touch
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